THIS is the shocking moment when a goalkeeper was struck by a flare
during last night's televised Champions League derby.

AC Milan keeper Dida was hit hard on the shoulder by one of dozens
of flares thrown from the stands by Inter Milan fans.

As he cowered in terror, in shock and suffering from first-degree
burns, the barrage of flares, fireworks, bottles and and missiles
continued to rain down.

The quarter final of the showpiece competition was suspended while
he received treatment for burns injuries in the middle of the pitch.

It briefly restarted before it had to be abandoned as more bottles
and incendiary flares were thrown on the pitch from a section of Inter
fans.

Referee Markus Merk called off the game was called off in the 73rd
minute with AC Milan leading 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on
aggregateFootball governing body UEFA awarded the tie to AC Milan on a
night of shame that was broadcast to TV viewers across the world.

UEFA were last night expected to launch a probe into the ugly
scenes as Italian ministers called for a summit on an explosion of
violence at recent matches across the country.

Authorities in Turin are gearing themselves for possible trouble at
tonight's Champions League tie between Liverpool and Juventus.

It is 20 years since the Heysel tragedy, in which 39 Italian
football fans were killed during a European Cup final between the two
sides, and football hooliganism is now in the headlines in Italy.

Last night's trouble began after Inter fans saw Esteban
Cambiasso's 'goal' ruled out for a foul, with their team
trailing 1-0.

The game was suspended with 17 minutes of play remaining as the
crowd reacted violently to the referee's decision.

When play resumed, more missiles were fired on to the pitch by
irate Inter fans, forcing the tie to be abandoned in less than a minute.

When the smoke from fiercely burning flares began to clear, the
pitch was seen to be littered with bottles and other missiles thrown
from the stands.

Inter can expect severe sanctions over last night's disgrace,
which was the worst of recent crowd trouble.

Yesterday, Italian sides Lazio and Ternana were fined after one of
the worst weekends of football violence in Italy this season.

Lazio received a pounds 25,000 fine and an official warning after
their fans chanted fascist slogans and waved neo-Nazi banners during a
match against rival Livorno. Second division Ternana were hit with a
similar fine, following their derby against Perugia, during which
objects were thrown at opposing fans and police.

Scores of fans were arrested throughout Italy over the weekend.

Interior minister Giuseppe Pisanu last night called for an urgent
meeting to tackle the crisis.

He added that stadiums could be shut down if fan violence
continued.

In March, former Celtic star Paolo Di Canio was fined pounds 7000
after a fascist-style salute to fans during a match between his side
Lazio and Roma in January

CAPTION(S):

HORRIFIC: AC Milan goalkeeper suffered first-degree burns after
being struck by a flare thrown by out-of-control fans during the
Champions League game; BOMBARDED: AC's Costa waits patiently as
flares land after being thrown by Inter fans at the San Siro stadium

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